Leroy Edward Jung

1930 - 2025

Leroy Edward Jung, a beloved husband, cherished father, Opa, Great Opa, Uncle and friend passed away peacefully in Fredericksburg, Texas, on October 14, 2025, at the age of 95 years.

Born on March 15, 1930, in Fredericksburg, Texas, Leroy was the only son of Edward and Ida Feuge Jung.

Leroy grew up in Fredericksburg, graduating from Fredericksburg High School in 1947. He attended the Palo Alto Community School through eighth grade. He later met his wife and spent his entire adult life raising their family and serving their community and church.

After five years of dating (he always said that he chased Mom until she caught him), he married his sweetheart, Shirley Mae Birck, on June 12, 1954. The two of them shared 70 years, 9 months and 20 days of life and adventure. Leroy was a loving husband to Shirley and a devoted father of three children, one son, Glenn Wayne, and two daughters, Debora Lynn, and Ginger Gail.

He provided for this family's every need by raising turkeys, cattle and the best hay in the county, fertilized by the birds on their ranch, as well as working with a carpenter crew up until the mid-1980's. During his 50 years of chickens and turkeys, he employed a good portion of the population of Gillespie County. He was a shrewd businessman, and commanded respect from those he worked with and employed. He was fair, honest and extremely hard working and expected the same from anyone he dealt with on his farm.

Leroy enjoyed gardening, fishing, hunting on their ranch and in Colorado. He loved playing Pinochle with their friends in the early days, and Chicken Foot with friends, family and especially grandchildren, but mostly spending time with family, were his favorite pastimes. He was also an excellent cook, baker and fish fryer. He and Mom worked together with the turkeys, and he did not hesitate to lend a hand in the kitchen or clean the house.

Leroy loved traveling. He and Shirley spent many Octobers hunting in Colorado with numerous cousins and friends. Taking family vacations to places like Silverton, Colorado, Yellowstone Park, Royal Gorge, the Petrified Forest, the Grand Canyon, the Texas Coast, Washington, Oregon and California tour, an East Coast tour and an 11,506 mile Alaskan trip and planning the itinerary with Shirley brought him joy. They visited all but 4 of the lower 48 states. They also enjoyed yearly bus trips with his FHS Class of 1947.

Leroy was very community involved. He served as a Scout Master for Glenn's Boy Scout Troop 135, and Band Booster for the FHS Band for all 3 children. He and Shirley even accompanied the band to Contest of Champions in Knoxville, Tennessee in 1980. He served on Church Council at Holy Ghost Lutheran Church for multiple terms, Luther League sponsor for each child, and as a support minister until his later years. He believed in serving his Lord through the church and leading his family to do the same always taking them to church and reading Bible devotions and prayers with them. Dancing was not his strong suit, but Shirley loved to dance to country and western music, so they were members of the Jolly Dance Club at the Turner Hall (Turn Verein).

Leroy will be best remembered for his friendly disposition, big smile, or little sideways "shit-eating grin" (as Mom called it), kindness to others, strength of character, sense of humor, wit, intelligence, business skills, and fabulous fish fries. Many of their numerous helpers on the ranch still call him a friend and never hesitated to visit him when given the chance.

At the end of his life's journey, he spent a year and three months at Knopp Nursing and Rehab #1. There they knew him as "Smiley." He never met a stranger and smiled and talked with residents and staff, alike. He touched the lives of everyone there, including his Hospice team. They called him "Special," and "One of the Good Ones." Throughout all his trials, he kept smiling and treating everyone with respect, love and appreciation. He talked, joked and laughed with them, and they cared for, visited and loved him. He made it a point to make the best of every situation, even those he disliked and had no control over.

He leaves behind the legacy and tradition of a big family and a community of friends. He believed in the value of hard work, a love of God, country and family. He believed in sharing every moment he could, making memories with family and friends. He loved traveling and seeing new places and then turning those experiences into stories and memories to share with others. Every birthday and holiday was a chance to get together with food, family, fellowship, and games. He was instrumental in helping Shirley create and host their Christmas Eve Open House, a well-known community event for decades, celebrating Christmas with food, fun and fellowship, creating memories that will last a lifetime for all who came.

Leroy is survived by his three children and their spouses, Glenn and Kim Jung, of Fredericksburg, Debbie Alkire, of Austin, and Ginger and Steve Burow, of Fredericksburg; eight grandchildren and their spouses, Joshua Jung and Aero Warren, of Lorena; Melissa Jung, of Temple; Michael and Jamey Jung, of Lorena; Miranda and Sean Harris, of Augusta, Georgia; Michaela Alkire, of Lakewood, Colorado; Chelsea and Guy Chadwick, of Hewitt; Kasey Burow, of Elizabeth City, North Carolina, and Brett Burow, of Odessa; seven great-grandchildren, Noah Jung, Elara Jung, Evren Jung, Kannon Jung, Kaylee Jung, and Layla Chadwick, all of the Waco area, and Benji Harris of Augusta; one brother-in-law, Kenneth Birck and wife, Betty of Wichita Falls, and one sister-in-law, Josie Weinheimer of Fredericksburg; one niece, Sheila Bibler of Fredericksburg, and two great-nieces, Lacey and Berto Sanchez of Mason and Lindey Bibler of Conroe.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley Birck Jung; his parents, Edward and Ida Jung; in-laws, Erie and Margaret Birck; one sister-in-law, Joyce Ann Birck; one brother-in-law, AJ Weinheimer, and one nephew, Scott Weinheimer.

A Celebration of Life for Leroy Edward Jung was held on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Holy Ghost Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg, Texas, with visitation at Holy Ghost Lutheran Church prior to the service from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Graveside services and interment followed at Der Stadt Friedhof, with a reception afterward at the Holy Ghost Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall.

Pallbearers were Bryan and Darrell Moellering, Troy and Treff Herber, and Gordon and Douglas Grona.

Memorials may be given to Holy Ghost Lutheran Church, Methodist Hill Country Hospice or the charity of your choice.

Funeral arrangements under the direction of Mason Funeral Home. masonfunerahome.net